Treatment
Moustache Transplant in Turkey
A moustache transplant places follicular units into the upper lip to build density or definition, following the natural downward growth direction.
From €1,500 to €2,200 All-inclusive package pricing. Confirmed at consultation.
Written by Akya Karahan, Junior Digital Content Marketing Specialist
Medically reviewed by Dr. Muhammet, MD
At a glance
| Procedure length | 3 to 5 hours |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia |
| Typical grafts | 400 to 800 |
| Initial recovery | About 5 to 7 days |
| Reported graft survival | 90-95% |
On success rates. Reported graft survival rates for follicular unit extraction vary between studies and depend on technique, graft handling and patient factors. Individual results vary.
In detail
Understanding Moustache Transplant
What a moustache transplant involves
A moustache transplant uses FUE to place follicular units, usually taken from the back of the scalp, into the upper lip. The grafts are set at a sharp, downward angle that follows natural growth, and they are chosen to blend with your existing facial hair.
As with a beard, the result depends on careful planning of angle, direction and density, so the moustache looks like it grew there rather than being added.
Published figures for native moustache density vary widely, from about 30 to 45 follicular units per square centimetre in one reported series to about 85 to 90 at the sides in another, with the centre of the upper lip denser again. A transplant commonly works to about 35 to 40 follicular units per square centimetre. Single-hair grafts are usually placed along the upper border, with a little extra density through the philtrum, which surgeons report gives a better aesthetic result. Your surgeon may suggest a second session later on, which would need its own assessment and written quote.
Who a moustache transplant suits
It suits patchy or thin moustache growth, gaps, and covering small scars, including scars from cleft-lip repair, provided you have a healthy scalp donor area. It can build a full moustache or simply add density and definition where you need it.
Recovery
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia. Small scabs form around each graft and settle over the first week to ten days, and shaving is normally avoided for the first couple of weeks to protect the grafts.
Results timeline and cost
Transplanted hairs often shed in the first weeks, which is expected, with new growth generally from around three to four months. A moustache commonly uses about 400 to 800 grafts, and individual results vary.
At Dr Vivo, moustache transplants start from around EUR 1,500 depending on graft count, with a written quote after assessment and no payment taken at the enquiry stage.
What each plan involves
Published graft figures differ between surgical sources, and your own count depends on how much hair you already have, so treat the ranges below as planning guides rather than a quote. The rows describe alternative plans, not figures to add together.
| What you are planning | Typical grafts | What it changes about the shape |
|---|---|---|
| One side of the upper lip | About 300 to 400 grafts | Evens out a patchy side, planned alongside the other |
| A full moustache | About 600 to 800 in one surgical source, about 400 to 500 in another | Published totals differ, which is why a wider range is quoted |
| A moustache with the chin filled in as well | About 1,000 to 1,100 grafts | The largest common plan, and it overlaps with a beard transplant |
| Camouflage over a scar on the upper lip | Often about 40 to 200 grafts, a median of about 80 in one series | In published cases, hair grown across a small scar softened how it looked |
How the main techniques compare
A structured comparison, so you can see where Moustache Transplant sits rather than reading it in isolation.
| Technique | How grafts are placed | Linear scar | Typical session |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUE | Recipient incisions made first, grafts then placed | No | 5 to 6 hours |
| DHI | Implanter pen places grafts directly, no pre-made incisions | No | 6 to 8 hours |
| Sapphire FUE | As FUE, with sapphire-tipped blades for incisions | No | 5 to 7 hours |
| FUT | Strip of donor skin removed, grafts dissected from it | Yes, linear | 4 to 8 hours |
Moustache Transplant questions
How much does a moustache transplant cost?
At Dr Vivo, moustache transplants start from around €1,500, depending on graft count. You receive a written quote after assessment, and no payment is taken at the enquiry stage.
How does a moustache transplant work?
Follicular units are harvested from the scalp with FUE and placed into the upper lip at a sharp, downward angle that follows natural growth. Direction and density planning are what make the result look natural.
Where does the donor hair for a moustache come from?
Usually the back of the scalp, because that hair is resistant to pattern loss and available in quantity. It is selected to blend with your existing facial hair as closely as possible.
How many grafts does a moustache transplant need?
A moustache commonly uses around 400 to 800 grafts, depending on the density you want and whether you are filling a patch or building a full moustache. The number is estimated at consultation.
Is a moustache transplant permanent?
The transplanted follicles usually keep growing long term. Because they come from the scalp, they grow at scalp speed and need regular trimming.
Will a moustache transplant look natural?
With careful angle and density planning it can look natural and blend with existing hair. Results depend on donor supply and the area being treated, and individual outcomes vary.
Is a moustache transplant painful?
It is performed under local anaesthesia, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Mild tenderness, redness and small scabs in the first week are normal.
How long before I can shave?
Shaving is normally avoided for the first two weeks or so to protect the grafts. Your clinical team will confirm timing for your case.
How long does a moustache transplant take to heal?
Small scabs settle over the first week to ten days. Transplanted hairs often shed in the first weeks, which is expected, with new growth generally appearing from around three to four months.
Can a moustache transplant fill patchy or scarred areas?
Yes. Adding density to patchy growth or camouflaging small scars, including from cleft-lip repair, are common reasons for the procedure, provided the donor area is healthy.
Free, no obligation
Get your personalised plan and quote
Send us a few photos and we’ll come back with a written plan, a graft estimate and an all-inclusive total cost. No payment is taken at this stage.
- Written plan and graft estimate
- All-inclusive total cost
- An honest view on whether surgery suits you
Independent sources on this procedure
We link to sources we do not control so you can check what we say against recognised medical authorities.
- Hair Transplantation, StatPearls, National Center for Biotechnology Information Peer-reviewed clinical reference covering surgical technique, graft handling and complications.
- International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery The specialty body for hair restoration surgeons, covering standards and practitioner verification.
Explore
Related treatments
Beard Transplant
A beard transplant moves follicular units, usually from the back of the scalp, into the beard area to add density to patchy growth or to reshape the beard line.
Eyebrow Transplant
An eyebrow transplant places single follicular units at a shallow angle to imitate the direction and flow of natural brow hair.
FUE Hair Transplant
Follicular Unit Extraction removes follicular units from the donor area one at a time and places them into thinning or bald areas. It is minimally invasive and leaves no linear scar.
See also our before and after gallery, the pre-operative guide, and frequently asked questions.
For what comes after surgery, read our hair transplant recovery timeline and our guide to how long a hair transplant lasts.